THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA

THE MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH AT THYATIRA

Thyatira was located exactly thirty miles from both Sardis and Pergamos (the capital city of Asia Minor for three hundred years). Thyatira still exists today with a population of approximately twenty-five thousand. Thyatira had one purpose: to act as an interceptor of any armies approaching Pergamos. Since Pergamos was the capital, it was the most threatened city of Asia Minor. But the armies would have to defeat Thyatira first. Thyatira wasn't the center of any kind of worship. There weren't any temples. It did have the shrine of a satanic priestess called the Sambath^e. She would tell fortunes for a certain sum. But for the most part, the people of Thyatira worshiped the gods that the rest of Asia Minor worshiped in those days. It was as immoral as any other pagan culture in that area. That was the environment of the church at Thyatira.

The city was founded as Pelopia, a shrine to the Lydian sungod Tyrimnus. The city was located on the Hermus River. The city was rebuilt by Selecus Nicator (301-281 B.C.) and made into a frontier garrison. The city became a center for small manufacture and trade. Thyatira was famous for its highly organized trade unions (cooperatives) and specialization in purple dye made from the madder root rather then the more expensive shellfish. Lydia in Acts 16;14 was a Purple merchant and a convert to Judaism who came from the Thyatira. We can't be sure who started the church at Thyatira, but we can guess that Lydia did. She was from Thyatira, and was won to Christ by Paul when she was on business in Philippi, which is in Macedonia (Ac. 16:14-15). Luke also tells us that her family was converted. It is very likely that Lydia went back to Thyatira with her family, and they became the nucleus of the church there.

The letter to Thyatira in Revelation 2:18-29 is the longest of the seven letters, and it is written to the most insignificant of the seven cities. This letter closely follows the thought of the letter to Pergamos. The compromise with sin, Satan, and the world that began in Pergamos becomes full scale in Thyatira. If the church at Pergamos married the world, then the church at Thyatira had been living with it for a long time. It had become entrenched in the world. The letter shows the depths of sin that compromise brings: full scale idolatry and immorality. The church at Thyatira represents the church that is absorbed by the world. It was literally living with the world. There are also churches today that name the name of Christ but are totally involved with the world. There are Christians who call themselves disciples of Christ but they are really disciples of Satan and the world.

REV 2:18 KJV And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; NLT Write this letter to the angel of the church in Thyatira. This is the message from the Son of God, whose eyes are like flames of fire, whose feet are like polished bronze: AMP And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Thyatira write: These are the words of the Son of God, Who has eyes that flash like a flame of fire, and Whose feet glow like bright and burnished and white-hot bronze:

The description of Christ in verse 18 is the same as the description of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1:14-15: "... His eyes were like a flame of fire; and His feet like fine bronze, as if they burned in a furnace..." In each of the letters we have studied, the description of the correspondent is taken from the vision of the glorified Christ in Revelation 1. There has always been a parallel. That is also true in this description, but with one significant difference. Revelation 2:18 says, "... These things saith the Son of God..." But Revelation 1:13 says, "And in the midst of the seven lampstands [stands] one like the Son of Man...

In the letter to the church at Thyatira, Jesus Christ is no longer designated as the Son of man; He is designated as the Son of God. Why? The Son of man designates Christ in His humanness, as He ministers to the churches in love and tenderness. But when He writes to the Thyatiran church, He is no longer the Son of man. He is no longer seen in His humanness; He is seen as God coming in divine and penetrating judgment. The Holy Spirit never makes a mistake in the names of Christ that He chooses. Christ's deity is emphasized because He is not coming to help them; He is coming as God to judge them because of sin. He is no longer the sympathetic Savior; He becomes the judge.

Eyes like a flame. The eyes of Christ are piercing seeing every action His church was involved. The picture of fire demonstrate his anger at this church for what is being allowed to take place. There is nothing more penetrating than fire. Everything yields to it. It consumes all opposition, and sweeps down all obstructions with invincible power. Christ is described as having eyes of flaming fire that penetrate the walls of the human heart to reveal hidden sin. The eyes of the Son of God are able to see through everything--piercing all masks, shredding all coverings, and searching the remotest recesses to see the hidden things of the soul. There is no escape.

Feet Like Fine Bronze Gr. calkolivbanon Chalkolibanon, this word is only used twice in scripture in Revelation 1:15, 2:18. The meaning seems to be a precious alloy, pointing to brilliance of the metal illustrating Christ as holy judge. When Christ saw what was happening at the church of Thyatira, He was ready to come in judgment to crush sin. A description of that type of judgment is found in Revelation 19:15: "... He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." Christ comes in power to crush sin under His feet. When the church marries the world, Christ gets upset-- so upset that He may kill some Christians (Rev. 2:23). That is a terrifying picture of judgment. God does not tolerate sin. Christ does not tolerate a church married to the world. That is why the introduction of the world into the church is a devastating problem.

Christ will come in serious judgment. God deals with sin even among His own people. He has provided an escape from sin's power, penalty, and presence. But if men refuse the way of escape--if they refuse the sacrifice of Christ and the forgiveness of God, then they will be caught in God's judgment on sin. In addition, God may have to punish some believers so severely that they may lose their life (1 Jn. 5:16). They won't lose their salvation; God may remove them because they have become a stumbling block.

REV 2:19 KJV I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first. NLT I know all the things you do. I have seen your love, your faith, your service, and your patient endurance. And I can see your constant improvement in all these things. AMP I know your record and what you are doing, your love and faith and service and patient endurance, and that your recent works are more numerous and greater than your first ones.

Notice that Christ pairs up their virtues. 1. LOVE AND SERVICE He says, "I know thy... love..." Of the churches we have studied, this is the only church that He says has love. While love was decreasing at Ephesus, it was increasing at Thyatira. They weren't hurting for love. Their love issued in service, which is the outgrowth of love. When you love, you minister. The Greek word for service is diakonia. The English word deacon comes from it. It also means "minister." As a result of their love, the church at Thyatira was a serving church.

2. FAITH AND SERVICE Christ says, "You have faith. As a result of your faith, you are a patient church." When you believe God, you don't worry; you wait on Him. Love results in service, and faith results in patience (Gk. hupomon^e = "steadfast endurance"). The church at Thyatira was to be commended because they were advancing in spirituality.

Of the churches that Christ has addressed to this point, the church at Thyatira was the only one He had commended for love. Yet it had a gross sin problem. The church had love, but it also had an abundance of sin. You say, "What's the problem?" The church didn't have sound doctrine. The balance that God demands is love and sound doctrine. The church at Thyatira didn't have that balance. The church at Ephesus was the opposite; it had sound doctrine. The members were finding the false prophets and kicking them out of the church as soon as they opened their mouth. But they didn't have love. As a result, the church was eventually destroyed. There has to be a balance of love and sound doctrine. Either polarization is deadly.

If you analyzed the Christian world today, you would find that this polarization still exists. 1. DOCTRINAL PERFECTIONISTS If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you are undoubtedly on twenty or thirty mailing lists. You may have noticed that we have our extremists today--the moral, doctrinal perfectionists who are loveless, ruthless, and horribly offensive while standing for the truth. But nobody can stand them. They have sound doctrine but none of the love. Their ministry takes place in a goldfish bowl: They spend most of their time having conferences with each other, or sending out papers.

2. TOLERANT SENTIMENTALISTS These people constantly preach a meaningless, tolerant sentimentalism and call it love. But love never soothes sin. True love says, "With tears in my eyes I tell you that without Jesus Christ, you're on your way to hell. Without Christ you have no place in the fellowship of His body." But love also says that you can know Christ. It doesn't say, "We will take you into the fellowship like you are." That's not love; that's sentimentalism. Without sound doctrine, love is a joke. You can tell your child, "I love you; do what you want," but that isn't love. If you love your child, you will say, "I love you, but now I have to spank you," when you need to. The essence of love is a balance between love and sound doctrine. The church at Thyatira had love but no sound doctrine

REV 2:20 KJV Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee, because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. NLT But I have this complaint against you. You are permitting that woman that Jezebel who calls herself a prophet to lead my servants astray. She teaches them to commit sexual sin and to eat food offered to idols. AMP But I have this against you: that you tolerate the woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess [claiming to be inspired], and who is teaching and leading astray my servants and beguiling them into practicing sexual vice and eating food sacrificed to idols. [I Kings 16:31; II Kings 9:22, 30.]

"Notwithstanding, I have a few things against thee [better translated, `I have this against you'], because thou allowest that woman, Jezebel, who calleth herself a prophetess, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eat things sacrificed unto idols. Woman Jezebel. To illustrate the problem at this church Christ uses the Old Testament character of Jezebel. Jezebel was the daughter of Ethbaal, King of Sidonians. She tried to corrupt Israel, by having Israel worship Baal and Asthtorah the pantheon originating in Babylon. The teaching of Jezebel mirror the attempts of the early Gnostics to move Christianity toward the Greek religion with its pantheon of gods and goddesses. As the Greek religion s influence began to fall with the spread of Christianity. Satan used the method used against Israel under Jezebel, he tried to get the church to incorporate the gods and goddesses of Greece with a Judaic/Christian package.

Christ is saying, "I'm upset because you tolerate sexual sin and idolatry, which I hate. You shall have no other gods before Me." The church at Thyatira tolerated Jezebel and her doctrine. The people never got rid of her; they allowed her to exist in the church. Exposing and Eliminating Sin If the church is going to be what Christ wants it to be, it must expose and eliminate sin. Someone will say, "You can't throw people out; that's demonstrating a lack of love." No, that's not true. Sound doctrine is the issue, not love. You don't deal with sin in a sentimental way, but according to God's Word. He says to put it out of the church.

We don't know who the Jezebel in Thyatira was. She is called Jezebel because she parallels the Old Testament Jezebel. The latter was the notorious daughter of Ethbaal, who was the king of the Sidonians (1 Kgs. 16:31). The Sidonians were famous for worshiping the false god Baal. When Jezebel married Ahab, Baal worship was set up in Israel. Elijah became upset and forced the issue at Mount Carmel. He said, "We are going to decide this issue. If God is God, then He will send fire; if Baal is God, then he will send fire" (1 Kgs. 18:20-40). Temples to Baal had been set up everywhere. One commentator has said that the priests of Baal were wicked sex perverts. That was the kind of perversion that Jezebel had brought into the church at Thyatira.

The same thing is happening today. Sin is brought into the church under the guise of a new morality. But it's not new; it's revitalized Baal worship. I have heard preachers who advocate such morality. A chaplain at a so-called Christian college advocated premarital sex for anybody who honestly felt that they were in love. The students agreed unanimously that it was the finest chapel message they had ever attended. When depravity is turned loose like that, you can expect that kind of response

Christ is adamant about eliminating sexual sin from the church. For example, 1 Corinthians 5 is Paul's commentary on the attitude that the church must have toward discipline. When sexual sin exists in the church, God deals harshly with it. Paul says, "It is reported commonly that there is fornication among you, and such fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles, that one should have his father's wife. And ye are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he hath done this deed..." (vv. 1-2). Instead of being sorry, the Corinthians were proud about what happened.

In verses 4-5 Paul says, "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus." Paul is saying, "Get sin out of your church by turning that person loose so that Satan may destroy his body in order that his soul might be redeemed." What does Paul mean by that? He might mean to allow Satan the opportunity to pull him so deeply into sin that he will finally turn to God. He may also mean that Satan will destroy his body literally so that Christ will take his spirit home to be with Him. Either way, it is a serious situation. When there is that kind of sin in the church, it must be put out. Paul says, "Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? Purge out, therefore, the old leaven..." (vv. 6-7).

The Bible is absolutely intolerant of sin in the church. It is also intolerant of sin in our lives. If the church isn't pure, it doesn't have a message for the world. That problem is characteristic of many churches today. The church cannot mix fellowship with sin. Do you know how God deals with that depravity? Remember what He did to Jezebel? She was pushed out of a window and the dogs ate her (2 Kgs. 9:30-37). You can't end up any lower than that! When the Bible wants to refer to someone as the scum of all scum in Hebrew, it calls him a dog. To be eaten by dogs is serious judgment. Don't make light of sin.

REV 2:21 KJV And I gave her space to repent of her fornication; and she repented not. NLT I gave her time to repent, but she does not want to turn away from her immorality. AMP I gave her time to repent, but she has no desire to repent of her immorality [symbolic of idolatry] and refuses to do so.

And I gave her space to repent of her fornication, and she repented not." God was gracious to this Jezebel. He doesn't want to destroy people, He wants to love them and win them to Himself. But Jezebel did not repent.

REV 2:22 KJV Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds. NLT Therefore, I will throw her on a bed of suffering, and those who commit adultery with her will suffer greatly unless they repent and turn away from her evil deeds. AMP Take note: I will throw her on a bed [ ] of anguish], and those who commit adultery with her [her paramours] I will bring down to pressing distress and severe affliction, unless they turn away their minds from conduct [such as] hers and repent of their doings.

"Behold, I will cast her into a bed..." You say, "What does He mean?" Everything Jezebel advocated took place on a bed, such as sexual immorality. The Romans didn't sit on the floor like the Orientals, or sit in a chair like the Europeans and Americans; they laid on a bed. So Christ says, "Jezebel, if you like beds so much, I'll put you in one." But what kind of bed?

A Place of Tribulation (v. 22b) "... and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent of their deeds." There is still a vestige of grace. Christ asks Jezebel and her followers to repent a second time. So Christ says to Jezebel, "Since you like beds, I will give you a bed of tribulation--a bed of death. And everyone that commits adultery with you and follows other gods, idols, false prophets, sin, and immorality, will be thrown in that bed with you."

REV 2:23 KJV And I will kill her children with death; and all the churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you according to your works. NLT I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches out the thoughts and intentions of every person. And I will give to each of you whatever you deserve. AMP And I will strike her children (her proper followers) dead [thoroughly exterminating them]. And all the assemblies (churches) shall recognize and understand that I am He Who searches minds (the thoughts, feelings, and purposes) and the [inmost] hearts, and I will give to each of you [the reward for what you have done] as your work deserves.

And I will kill her children with death..." Everyone who imitates Jezebel's activity is in danger of death at the hands of Christ. That is serious! The warning could refer to unbelievers, or to believers who are totally out of fellowship with Christ. Associated with the church are unbelievers who are hypocrites, and believers who are living in sin. The people who live like that are called the children of Jezebel because their lives are patterned after her conduct. Christ says, "I will kill them." Why?

Christ is saying, "The churches will know that they can't hide anything from Me. If something like what has happened at Thyatira occurs at another church, I may remove some of its members until it realizes its sin." That's how much God hates sin. Jesus Christ died to purchase the church and present it blameless to God, "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing..." (Eph. 5:27). When the church becomes polluted with sin, Christ removes that sin because He wants to keep the church pure. We often think of Christ as the loving Savior--and He is--but when He judges, He is seen with eyes like a flame of fire and feet of burning bronze. If the church does not keep its ranks pure with discipline, then Christ will make it pure by removing the stain.

Christ is talking to professing Christians, not true Christians. He may also be addressing true Christians living in sin. If you call yourself a Christian, but are married to the world, living in sin, and defiling your covenant with Christ, then repent before Christ removes you. That is a solemn warning. Christ wants a pure church. There is no place for worldliness or compromise. Sin must be dealt with.

It is possible that Christ will take the life of a believer. For example: 1. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:29-30 -- In verse 29 Paul accused some of the Corinthians of misusing the Lord's supper. In verse 30 he says, "For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep." Some of them died because of how they treated the Lord's table of remembrance. 2. 1 JOHN 5:16 -- John says that we should pray for our brother, but not to if he has committed the sin unto death. You say, "What sin is that?" It is no particular sin--just the sin that is the straw that breaks the camel's back. When the sinful life of a believer becomes a great stumbling block, God takes him home. It can happen.

REV 2:24 KJV But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden. NLT But I also have a message for the rest of you in Thyatira who have not followed this false teaching ( deeper truths, as they call them depths of Satan, actually). I will ask nothing more of you AMP But to the rest of you in Thyatira, who do not hold this teaching, who have not explored and known the depths of Satan, as they say--i tell you that I do not lay upon you any other [fresh] burden:

In Malachi 3:1-6 God tells Israel that He is going to come in judgment. Verse 16 says, "... they that feared the LORD spoke often one to another..." The faithful people didn't know what would happen to them. Instead of talking to God, they mumbled to each other. But He heard them. Verses 16-17 say, "... a book of remembrance was written before Him for them that feared the +LORD, and that thought upon His name. And they shall be Mine, saith the +LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up My jewels..." The people brightened up at that, saying, "We won't be a part of the judgment!"

REV 2:25 KJV But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. NLT except that you hold tightly to what you have until I come. AMP Only hold fast to what you have until I come.

God says the same thing to the faithful group at Thyatira: "I may have to judge the church, but hang on until I come. I'm not going to put any more burdens on you." He says the same thing to us. The Greek word for "hold fast" is krate^o, which means, "to be strong or mighty." That implies that holding on to what they had wouldn't be easy (Rev. 2:19). Christ uses a strong word to indicate that Satan is going to be tough on them, and that they will need to hang on tight. Christ commands the ungodly to repent. He commands the Christian in sin to do the same. He says this to the believer who is true to the faith: "Hang on! I'm not going to put any more burdens on you. Just hold fast."

REV 2:26 KJV And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations NLT To all who are victorious, who obey me to the very end, to them I will give authority over all the nations. AMP And he who overcomes (is victorious) and who obeys My commands to the [very] end [doing the works that please Me], I will give him authority and power over the nations;

Christ closes with a word to the overcomers. First John 5:5 identifies the overcomers: "Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?" Whoever is redeemed is an overcomer. A. The Proof of the Overcomer (v. 26a) "And he that overcometh, and keepeth My works unto the end..." That is the proof that a person is an overcomer.

REV 2:27 KJV And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father; KJV They will rule the nations with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots. They will have the same authority I received from my Father AMP And he shall rule them with a sceptre (rod) of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, and [his power over them shall be] like that which I Myself have received from My Father;

When Christ returns in His Kingdom, He will reign for a thousand years on earth. Christ will rule with a rod of iron--there will be instant, divine judgment upon sin. He will not rule alone; all of the overcomers will rule with Him. We will be ruling over all of the nations of the world that will exist at that time with the power of judgment. Christ says, "And he shall rule over them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers..." That refers to the enemies of God. Then He says, "... even as I received of My Father" (v. 27). What does He mean by that? Christ said, "... the Father... hath committed all judgment unto the Son" (Jn. 5:22), and He is granting a portion of it to us. Those who know Christ in the Kingdom will rule with Him.

The word "rule" is poimain^o in the Greek text. It literally means, "to shepherd." Our rule will involve not only the execution of judgment, but the administration of mercy and direction to the sheep as well. That's a beautiful combination.

REV 2:28 KJV And I will give him the morning star. NLT I will also give them the morning star! AMP And I will give him the Morning Star

And I will give him the morning star." You say, "What is the morning star?" Revelation 22:16 says, "I, Jesus, have sent Mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star." Someday, the morning star will be mine--and the morning star is Jesus Christ. He will be yours and mine. There won't be any distractions in eternity. I totally belong to Christ now, but I will never experience all that He is until the day I see Him. Why is Jesus called the "morning star"? Because He will be like the dawn of the Kingdom. The first thing that rises in the day is the morning star. When the morning star rises at the dawn of the Kingdom, Jesus Christ will be fully mine. There are two things the overcomer will be able to do: reign with Christ and possess Him for his own.

REV 2: 29 KJV He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. NLT Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. AMP He who is able to hear, let him listen to and heed what the [Holy] Spirit says to the assemblies (churches

Two things stand out as we conclude. First, the picture of sin in Revelation 2:18-29 has been devastating. You now know what God thinks of a church that marries the world. Second, two descriptions of Christ stand out. The first description portrays Christ as coming in fierce wrath and penetrating judgment. For some people, that is the only Christ they will ever know because they refuse Him as Savior. However, the other picture is of Christ as the morning star. Which Christ do you know? The choice is yours.